November 18.2008
Dear ETI Student,
Last night, CBS 2 Chicago aired a story on its nightly news broadcast using ETI as an example of an institution that misrepresents its training and job placement success rates in order to increase its student enrollment.
These arc serious allegations and we want to address them with you directly. For those of you who may not be aware, since August, ETI has been owned by Jakma Investments, an investment firm that purchased the School from its previous owners, the Tortorello family. Jakma bought ETI in part because of its outstanding reputation in the industry for high-quality education and hands-on training.
Let me start by saying that we disagree with many of the reporter's assertions, and have many successful graduates who can attest to the quality of their educational experience at ETI and their subsequent career success.
That said, we take all allegations about the School's training and placement practices under its previous owners very seriously. Since we assumed ownership, we have been actively reviewing use performance of ETl's faculty and staff, the condition of its facilities, and the quality of its student services and its curriculum. Let me assure you that we will address any issues in order to maintain the quality and integrity of ETI in the future.
Jakma investments and ETI are committed to enhancing the overall educational experience for students and meeting our obligation to provide the highest quality HVAC/R training. We are also committed, to assisting ETI' s graduates in identifying and obtaining HVAC/R-related employment opportunities as they complete their program and begin their careers.
We realize that despite our best efforts some students may not achieve the level of success that they originally hoped for, However, our commitment to you is that if you live up to your end of our agreement by attending class, completing ail the requirements for certification, and following the steps to qualify for job placement, we will properly prepare you for and assist you in your efforts to begin your career in this exciting industry.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] and we will do our best to answer your questions.
Sincerely,
Dennis Bute
ETI
Facts... Facts... Facts...!
First off, ETI was not used as an example. It was singled out because of numerous complaints. This was not a negative Newspaper article that anyone could write, print off and send in. This was an investigation over several months from a major news station interviewing dozen's which is still open.
Pulitzer-prize winning reporter Pam Zekman leads CBS 2 CHICAGO's investigative team, a position she has held since 1981. Her thorough investigations have resulted in governmental reforms and criminal indictments, which may be the case here.
What aired is FACT, not opinion. ETI misrepresents its training and job placement success rates in order to increase its student enrollment is FACT.
ETI self governs and self evaluates its own success rate. Further more ETI over the past year in a declining job market as stepped up its advertising with radio commercial's claiming High Paying Jobs and Guaranteed Job Placement.
State Rep. Constance Howard said "You have to be able to provide the services that you claim you can and no false promises, that's deceptive advertising."
When my class 1007MA enrolled, ETI claimed 98% Job Placement, then increased that to 100% (Guaranteed) and then lowered it to 99%.
ETI's own self evaluation guidelines for compliance states; In cases where accrediting standards differ, the more stringent shall apply.
With that being said, regardless of the actual success rate, it in itself is deceptive therefore FRAUD. Make no mistake these are CRIMINAL allegations not reporter's assertions.
Pertaining to class 1007MA graduating 10/6/08, Jakma investments and ETI denied students its primary educational objective and by doing so puts the integrity and honesty of the Accrediting Commission itself at risk.
The school's primary educational objective must be to prepare students for entrance or (in my case) advancement in one or more occupations requiring manual, manipulative or technical competence or skills. Training, which is job oriented, must provide graduates with the necessary competencies for employment in their occupational field.
With respect to the condition of its facilities, and the quality of its student services and its curriculum. The changes are so noted however your obligation to provide or properly prepare class 1007MA under past or present ownership were not met.
With respect or lack of, assisting ETI's graduates in identifying and obtaining HVAC/R-related employment opportunities. ETI has no jobs for its graduates, by identifying ETI is cold calling companies asking that graduates resumes be faxed to them.
These are hardly bona-fided employment opportunities and in most cases only an enhanced illusion.
With respect to the following statement:
We realize that despite our best efforts some students may not achieve the level of success that they originally hoped for, However, our commitment to you is that if you live up to your end of our agreement by attending class, completing all the requirements for certification, and following the steps to qualify for job placement, we will properly prepare you for and assist you in your efforts to begin your career in this exciting industry.
This is no commitment; it's an ETI wish for financial gain, a prayer that current students don't sell their little bag of tools and buy running shoes to run the HELL out of there as fast as possible!
Jakma investments and ETI want people to believe there's only a few unhappy stories. A former employee, an old man unhappy about attendance, a young man cleaning swimming pools and a under skilled maintenance worker. I think people are smarter than that. An Pulitzer-prize winning Reporter, an Investigative Team, an State Representative, the Accrediting Commission and Ten's of Millions of tax dollars, all this because class 1007MA wasn't properly prepared for employment or is it that the schools a SCAM or at least until 10/06/08 under its current administrative staff.
Imagine the undue mistrust and hardship you've put on me, my classmates and our families.
Sincerely,
The old man unhappy about attendance
Class 1007MA
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